Valley Tech basks in glow of title

While temperatures this past weekend were chilly and snow flurries could be seen in communities like Natick and Wayland, the sun seemed to be shining just a tad bit brighter in Upton. Perhaps it had something to do with Valley Tech’s 6-0 win over rival Bay Path in the CMass Division 6 Super Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Worcester State.

By Paul Lazdowski/Daily News correspondent

Milford Daily News

By Paul Lazdowski/Daily News correspondent

Posted Dec. 3, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2012 at 3:05 AM

By Paul Lazdowski/Daily News correspondent

Posted Dec. 3, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2012 at 3:05 AM

» Social News

While temperatures this past weekend were chilly and snow flurries could be seen in communities like Natick and Wayland, the sun seemed to be shining just a tad bit brighter in Upton.

Perhaps it had something to do with Valley Tech’s 6-0 win over rival Bay Path in the CMass Division 6 Super Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Worcester State.

"Yesterday was beautiful as far as I was concerned," Valley Tech head coach Jim Archibald said on Sunday morning. "It was one of those things where during the game you don’t really feel how cold it is or the conditions. Luckily, I didn’t get doused with water. But as soon as that final buzzer sounded it certainly got a lot warmer in Upton.

"It’s something that we’re extremely proud of. We’re thrilled for our program. Hopefully this is just the first step in years to come of being competitive in these games."

The trophy presentation and on-field celebration between Beaver players and coaches were only the first steps in what has been and will continue to be a number of local tributes for the team.

"It was kind of surreal," Archibald admitted about his team’s bus ride home. "We were kind of talking on the bus and we were all a little excited. We came home (using routes) 122 to 140 and we were met at the Upton line by two Upton police cruisers. They gave us a police escort down to Valley Tech and when we got to Valley Tech all the parents and kids from school and all the fans (approximately 100 people) were there waiting for us."

Archibald recognizes that the Beavers title — its first since 2007 when it defeated Dean Tech — is a reflection of everyone who has ever touched the Valley Tech program.

"Last year was my first year as head coach so I’ve kept in touch with some of those kids," Archibald said. "A lot of them were at the game. (Others have reached out via) text messages and e-mails saying, ‘Congratulations.’ I told those kids that they were a part of it; they kind of started it; they were kind of like the benchmark last year and all the guys (on the current team) looked up to them.

"(I also heard from) Glen Arnold who was the head coach (at Valley Tech) before me. He was an assistant on the 2007 Super Bowl club. He was at the game yesterday and I had a good conversation with him. Glen was a guy who when I didn’t have a lot of coaching experience, he kind of gave me a shot. He hired me and let me work the offensive and defensive lines, and gave me the responsibility of being a defensive coordinator."

Still Archibald could not help but bring the conversation back to his players and the commitment they made throughout the long and challenging season.

Page 2 of 2 - "I’m just happy for the kids, especially the seniors," Archibald said. "I love those guys. They’ve done everything we’ve asked of them over the last four years. It’s special for them and it’s special for us. I really wanted it for them; they really deserved it. They’re a great group of kids. We were talking through texts last night and I’m really going to miss them. They’re a special group. I’m just glad we were able to win it for them."

For Wayland and Natick — two teams that fell just short of their season-long goals —both teams were visibly disappointed after losing on Saturday afternoon, but there were also positives to be taken from the experience.

"Twenty seniors led the way, all the way from the last day after Thanksgiving," Wayland coach Scott Parseghian said in the aftermath of his team’s 12-3 loss to Sharon in the EMass Division 3 Super Bowl at Bentley University. "They wanted to be here. They wanted to be in this situation, and they pulled the whole group together from sophomores to seniors. It was one group and we battle-tested a lot of things the last couple of weeks and we came through it. (Despite the loss) we feel like we’re a good team because of it."